On Human Rights Day, the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum recalls the Resolution of its 2024 General Assembly adopted at the 1st EaP CSF Civil Society Summit on 19 November 2024 in Vienna.
In the context of political turmoil and geopolitical complexities exacerbated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, conflicts and oppressions still impact countless lives across the EaP region.
We condemn Russia’s continued systematic attacks in Ukraine leaving behind documented occurrences of torture, rape and child abduction, and the intensifying human rights violations in Russian-occupied territories in Georgia, including kidnapping of peaceful population and continued discrimination.
We are worried about the repression of civil society and increasing of the number of political prisoners in Belarus and Azerbaijan. In Belarus, over 1,300 people remain behind bars for politically motivated reasons; in Azerbaijan, over 300 people face the same fate, including journalists Aynur Elgunesh (Gambarova), Natig Javadli, Khayala Agayeva, Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Tapdig (Ahmadova), Ramin Deko (Jabrailzade), and the deputy director of the Baku Journalism School, Ulvi Tahirov, arrested on 8 December 2024.
In the context of the nation-wide protests that emerged at the end of November following the Georgian government’s decision to suspend EU accession negotiations until the end of 2028, we express serious concerns over the current full-blown crackdown on fundamental freedoms in Georgia, police violence and the arrests of over 350 protestors, including activists, journalists and representatives of political opposition. Moreover, we condemn the Georgian government unabating smear campaigns targeting civil society that severely undermine the ability of Georgian civil society to take part in civic dialogue, policymaking and consultations.
We reaffirm EaP governments’ obligation to uphold the fundamental rights and freedoms of their citizens and to foster a supportive environment for civil society. In light of the current geopolitical challenges affecting civil society across the EaP region, we call on:
The European Union
- To prioritise human rights and rule of law over short-term interests, such as energy agreements and supplies, when engaging with EaP countries’ governments, notably the Azerbaijani authorities,
The EU Member States
- To step up their commitment to the build-up of democracy in Azerbaijan and Belarus and on increasing international pressure to unconditionally release all political prisoners in Azerbaijan and Belarus,
- To facilitate relocation of EaP citizens at risk of political persecution through visa support, professional and educational opportunities, and to provide necessary assistance to the over 120,000 Armenians who have been subject to enforced displacement from the former territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,
- To formalise prolongation of the temporary protection for the Ukrainians fleeing from Russia’s war of aggression,
The Azerbaijani, Belarusian and Georgian authorities
- To repeal repressive laws hampering civil society’s work and ensure freedom of expression and freedom of association, in line with Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights,
The Armenian, Azerbaijani and Belarusian authorities
- To ratify the Istanbul Convention,
The EaP countries
- To promote inclusion of persons with disabilities and ensure meaningful youth participation in policymaking while prioritising support for vulnerable groups, including young people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and displaced youth,
The international prosecutors, including the International Criminal Court
- To investigate and prosecute Russia’s war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.
Civil society’s role is key in defending human rights and denouncing human rights violation in the EaP countries. We remain committed to fundamental reforms, in particular the rule of law and fundamental rights, in all engagements with the EaP countries.
